Swimming pool cover

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cover means for a swimming pool or the like comprising a sheet of material shaped for affixture about its periphery to the periphery of a pool, the body of the cover being supported above the contents by an elongated boom member pivotally mounted on a retaining post adjacent the pool.

United States ,11 1

Ward 1451 Sept. 3, 1974 SWIMMING POOL COVER 2,694,231 11/1954 Bermejo 52/64 x 2,819,547 l/1958 Clements, Jr. 52/169 x [76] Invent Gmffrey Arthur wardall P 2,967,379 1/1961 Small 52 64 x paradez Cheltenham, Vlctona, 3,008,148 1 1/1961 Vierling 41172.12 Australla 3192 3,293,665 12/1966 Langer 4/172.12 3,355,745 12/1967 Jannuzzi 4/172.12 [22] June 1973 3,475,768 11/1969 Burton 4 172.12 [21] Appl. No.: 371,609 3,769,639 1l/I973 Bishop 4/172.l2

Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis [30] Applicauon Prion Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wigman & Cohen' July 26, 1972 Australia 9836/72 521 11.5. (:1. 4/172.12 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl E04h 3/16, E04h 3/18 The invention relates to a cover m ans for a swimming [58] Field of Search; 4/172.11, 172.12, 172.13, P 01 or the like comprising a sheet of material shaped 4/172 14; 52/64, 66 72 for afiixture about its periphery to the periphery of a I I pool, the'body of the cover being supported above the [56] References Cit d contents by an elongated boom member pivotally UNITED STATES PATENTS mounted on a retaining post adjacent the pool.

2,692,566 10/1954 Mitchell ..,4/172.12 UX 12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SWIMMING POOL COVER This invention relates to protective covers for swimming pools and the like and particularly, but not exclusively to covers for domestic swimming pool installations.

When such pools are not in actual use, it is desirable that some form of cover be provided to prevent dust, leaves, refuse or the like from falling into the pool.

Such a cover also serves to prevent the pool from being a safety hazard for children and animals.

The usual form of cover is a sheet of heavy plastic film such as polyethylene, fastened to the periphery of the pool, and lyingon the water surface. With large pools, covers of this type are difficult to handle, particularly in the case where rain has fallen on the cover when in situ, and it is accordingly the principal objective of this invention to provide a cover particularly suitable for large pool installations and capable of easy manipulation.

With the above stated principal objective in view, there is provided according to the invention a cover means for aswimming pool or the like comprising a sheet of material shaped for affixture about its periphery to the periphery of a pool, the body of the cover being supported above the contents by an elongated boom member pivotally mounted on a retaining post adjacent the pool.

Conveniently, in the case of a circular pool, the cover may be attached at its centre to the extremity of the boom. In pools of elongated shape, a plurality of booms may be used to advantage.

The boom may include a counterweight to enhance its ease of manipulation and, if desired, a geared winding mechanism.

The cover may be fabricated from any known material suitable for the purpose.

In use, the boom serves to permit ready manipulation of the cover and, when the cover is fixed in position over the pool, holds it in a domed configuration to permit rainwater to drain therefrom.

A practical arrangement of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a cover according to the invention fitted to a conventional aboveground domestic swimming pool; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the cover in a raised stored position.

Referring now to the drawings:

The cover 3 comprises a conical shaped sheet of heavy gauge polyethylene provided about its periphery 4 with fastening means 5 to engage complementary fasteners 6 fitted in spaced relationship around the circumference of the pool 7. A shackle 8 is attached by any convenient means to theapex of the cover and connected with one extremity 9 of an elongated tubular metal boom 10 pivotally mounted at point 11 near its other extremity on a vertical post 12 standing adjacent the pool.

The boom 10 is provided at its other extremity with a counterweight 13 to facilitate ease of movement of the boom about its pivotal mounting ll.

' In the case where the pool is of large diameter and hence the boom length is extensive and the weight of the cover is considerable for ease of manipulation of the boom, the pivotal post mounting may include a convention gear and crank winding mechanism. Alternatively, hydraulic raising means may be used, of known type.

When the cover 3 is removed from the pool, the boom 10 is raised to a substantially vertical stored position and latched therein by any convenient means and the cover lies suspended from its upper extremity and in a collapsed condition, as shown in FIG. 2. When the cover is replaced over the pool, the boom holds the apex of the cover above the water surface with the cover in a substantially taut condition and tension may be retained on the assembly by the inclusion of a tension spring, or other retaining means 14 fixed to and extending from the mounting post 12 towards the counterweighted extremity of the boom.

In a modification, the mounting post 12 may include means to permit the boom to be swung about the axis of the post as well as in a vertical plane. 7

Where a plurality of booms are used for a large and- /or irregularly shaped pool cover, the booms may conveniently be supported by one or more mounting posts and may be shaped to suit the particular application.

Whilst the principal application of the invention is as a swimming pool cover, it may also be used advantageously as a removable cover for other liquid vessels, and bins, hoppers or the like for the storage of solid materials such as grain, chemicals and the like.

I claim:

1. A cover means for a swimming pool comprising a sheet of material shaped for affixture about its periphery to the periphery of a pool, said cover means includirig means for removably positioning the body of the cover above the contents by an elongated boom member pivotally mounted on a retaining post adjacent the pool, whereby said elongated boom member cooperates with said cover means to position said cover means over the pool contents when the pool is not in use and for storing the cover means when the pool is in use.

2. A cover means according to claim 1 wherein the boom includes a counterweight to facilitate ease of manipulation.

3. A cover means according to claim 1 including a mechanical mechanism operable to raise or lower the boom.

4. A cover means according to claim 1 including tension means to hold the cover material in a taut condition when supported above the pool.

5. A cover means according to claim 1 including a hydraulic mechanism operable to raise or lower the boom.

6. A cover means according to claim 1 wherein said boom is pivotally positionable in an upright position and said cover means is maintained in a stored vertical position when not in use.

7. A cover means according to claim 6 including means to secure said stored cover means in vertical position.

8. A pool protective cover comprising a sheet of material shaped to cover the pool contents, an elongated boom member pivotally mounted on a retaining post positioned in the vicinity of the pool, said pool cover and said elongated boom having interengaging attach ment means for removably positioning said cover over the pool contents whereby said elongated boom member cooperates with said cover to position said cover over the pool contents when the pool is not in use and for storing the cover when the pool is in use.

11. A pool protective cover according to claim 8 including means to permit the booms to swing about the axis of the retaining post.

12. A pool protective cover according to claim 8 wherein the booms are pivotally mounted on individual retaining posts. 

1. A cover means for a swimming pool comprising a sheet of material shaped for affixture about its periphery to the periphery of a pool, said cover means including means for removably positioning the body of the cover above the contents by an elongated boom member pivotally mounted on a retaining post adjacent the pool, whereby said elongated boom member cooperates with said cover means to position said cover means over the pool contents when the pool is not in use and for storing the cover means when the pool is in use.
 2. A cover means according to claim 1 wherein the boom includes a counterweight to facilitate ease of manipulation.
 3. A cover means according to claim 1 including a mechanical mechanism operable to raise or lower the boom.
 4. A cover means according to claim 1 including tension means to hold the cover material in a taut condition when supported above the pool.
 5. A cover means according to claim 1 including a hydraulic mechanism operable to raise or lower the boom.
 6. A cover means according to claim 1 wherein said boom is pivotally positionable in an upright position and said cover means is maintained in a stored vertical position when not in use.
 7. A cover means according to claim 6 including means to secure said stored cover means in vertical position.
 8. A pool protective cover comprising a sheet of material shaped to cover the pool contents, an elongated boom member pivotally mounted on a retaining post positioned in the vicinity of the pool, said pool cover and said elongated boom having interengaging attachment means for removably positioning said cover over the pool contents whereby said elongated boom member cooperates with said cover to position said cover over the pool contents when the pool is not in use and for storing the cover when the pool is in use.
 9. The pool protective cover according to claim 8 including a plurality of elongated booms pivotally mounted on a retaining post.
 10. The pool protective cover according to claim 8 wherein said interengaging attachment means is a shackle and further including a counterweight for easy movement of the boom.
 11. A pool protective cover according to claim 8 including means to permit the booms to swing about the axis of the retaining post.
 12. A pool protective cover according to claim 8 wherein the booms are pivotally mounted on individual retaining posts. 